Dr. Craig is the Chief Medical and Underwriting Director of San Antonio-based PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance. With over 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine, Dr. Craig is passionate about pets and how to keep them healthy and happy for a lifetime.

Note: This is an mySA.com City Brights Blog. These blogs are not written or edited by mySA or the San Antonio Express-News. The authors are solely responsible for the content.

H3N8 – the four-legged flu

While people continue to scramble to get their hands on the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine, there is a concern that pet owners are forgetting to get their paws on the canine influenza vaccine. Just as people are facing one of the toughest flu seasons we have seen in a while, according to the Center of Disease Control, dogs are also battling the sniffles.

The CDC is recommending dogs get vaccinated against the canine strain of influenza “A” called H3N8 that has been detected in more than 30 states. The H3N8 strain of canine influenza is new and highly contagious – it is highly likely that if your dog is exposed to another that has the virus, they will come down with the flu.

Much like the H1N1, the symptoms of canine influenza mimic the classic human flu symptoms including fever, loss of energy, loss of appetite, sneezing, coughing and runny nose. Unfortunately, these symptoms are also similar to those of Infectious Canine Tracheobronchitis, or kennel cough, which is a contagious disease that affects the respiratory system of dogs. Both kennel cough and H3N8 canine influenza have the potential to progress into pneumonia if left untreated.

Since the symptoms of H3N8 are so similar to kennel cough, it is very important that pet owners do not assume that the earliest symptom – a hacking unproductive cough – is a sign of kennel cough. Should your dog develop sneezing, loss of appetite, purulent nasal discharge, or a soft, moist cough with a mild or low-grade fever that persists for more than a few days owners should contact their veterinarian immediately.

Most dogs recover from canine influenza within 2-3 weeks when the virus is caught early. The treatment can include broad-spectrum bactericidal antimicrobials that are used to combat secondary bacterial infections commonly attributed with the onset of pneumonia and maintenance of hydration via intravenous administration of fluids.

There are vaccines available for kennel cough and canine influenza. Since the vaccines are considered “lifestyle” vaccines, they are not recommended for every dog. Owners should consult with their veterinarian to determine whether their dog’s lifestyle includes risks for exposure to the canine influenza virus, and if the vaccine is appropriate for their dog.

Having a health insurance plan in place for your pet can help to ease the cost of such vaccines, in both dogs and cats. The PurinaCare® plus Preventive Care Plan not only provides benefits for vaccinations but also helps to cover the cost of routine lab tests and the treatment for illnesses, including diagnostic tests and medication.